Masi Periasamy

Masi Periasamy, also known as Kollimalai Masi Periasamy is a very powerful deity and kuladeivam for millions of Hindu people. He is a great deity and sage who is living in Kollimalai, near Namakkal, Tamil Nadu. It said he appear there for more than 1000 years ago. When Masi Periasamy was travelling all over the world, he passed by Kollimalai by taking huge gigantic physical body (Mahima Sitthi). He jumped over 6 hills but all became weak and instable. Lastly, he jumped onto the Kollimalai, and found that the hill really strong for Him to reside. In old time, it said, He appeared with one tooth, one sadai (twisted long hair) and one Vel ( sharp weapon).

In the ancient time, He is only known as Muni, however, He was named Periasamy ( Big God) as He appeared with Gigantic Body, and Masi Month is the celebration month for Him. Usually the celebration is celebrated on star Uthiram, star of Sun (the symbol of Leader). Masi Periasamy is the very powerful compared to small deity as He is a Divine Sage (Muni). He is usually prayed by Muthuraja (Muthirayar) people as Kuladeivam. He is considered as the Most Powerful Kuladeivam among Tamilnadu Deities.


The form of Masi Periasamy in the temple is really tremendous as He is holding a vel at right hand side, with big moustache and talapa and sit on lion (the King of Jungle - also symbol of Muthuraja people). The form itself shows He is a Bravest Sage.


A person who is really sincere to Him would get all the blessings, happiness, luck, health, wealth and spiritual improvement. Nowadays, people from various country like Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, America, Mauritius, Hong Kong with various family background, caste and religion come to His Temple which is at peak of the Kollimalai (1250 metres above the sea). When anyone climb the hill to see Him, would praise Him really Periasamy as none of any kuladeivam resides at this top. Around Namakkal and Trichy area, we also could see many Kodangi (fortune teller with udukai - small hand drum) say Divine Vakku ( Divine Prediction) with the blessing of Masi Periasamy.

Every year, annual celebration would be done grandly. This year, the Annual Celebration (Thiruvizha) will be on 1 March 2010. This thiruvizha would be done very happeningly by 8 villages. Goat offering would be given in the thiruvizha. This is the right time to see very happening thiruvizha at the peak of Kollimalai (Kolli Hill).

Karuppu Sami

Karuppu Sami (Tamil: கருப்புசாமி) (also called by many names) is one of the regional Tamil male deities who is popular among the rural social groups of South India, especially Tamil Nadu an small parts of Kerala. He is one of the 21 associate folk-deities of Ayyanar and is hence one of the so-called Kaval Deivams of the Tamils..

Historical Tradition

Karuppu (in Tamil) means Black and Sami means God. Hence he is associated with darkness, night, etc.

In the ancient Tamil society, people venerated the Veerargal (or warriors) and had the formless stones (Veera Kal or Veerakkal) or Nadukkal erected in memory of them. These fallen warriors or any persons who sacrificed their life for a good cause such as protection of the welfare of the society or the community are revered by all. Just like other sub-deities, he is also a martyr.

Karuppanar is believed to protect the poor, and ensure justice and self-discipline among his believers. It is also believed that He is a fierce warrior who never forgives those who sinned or those who commit crimes. It is believed that He shoos away all evils and devils from entering the village.He masters all land and is a warrior who blocks all evil entering a boundary.

One of the legends of Karuppaswamy

Following is the story heard by word-of-mouth from the pujaris or Sami aadis in Alagar Kovil, Madurai.

Lord Rama had sent Sita to the forest when she was pregnant and lived in Saint Valmiki's Ashram.

While in the Ashram, She brought a male heir of Rama to the world.

One day when she was going out for some chores of the Ashram, she asked the Saint to take care of her child in the cradle. The Saint was watching the child and meanwhile went into a deep meditation. When Sita returned, she found that the Saint was in meditation and didn't want to disturb him to tell him that she was taking her child.

When the Saint was out of the meditation, he found the child missing. So he put some holy grass (Dherbai) in the cradle and with his mantra he made that as a child.

Later when he found that Sita was having her real child, he was so confused and asked Sita to treat the new baby also as her own child.

When Sita was returning to Rama, he was expecting only one male heir. But to his astonishment, he found two boys (Lavan and Kushan) approaching him. Again to test the purity of the boys, he set a fire and asked the boys to cross the fire to reach him. He told that whoever was his real heir would cross the fire unscathed. Unknowingly the boy brought up by the Saint, stuck in the middle of the fire and burnt his body becoming very dark.

Finally, Rama got to know what had happened in the forest to have two boys instead of one. Then he blessed the burnt boy to become his escort god (kaval deivam) and called him “Karuppannan” which became Karuppa Sami.

That was the reason why Karuppa Sami put the sacred tri-strips (Thiru Namam) on his forehead. And also I heard that while calling the deity, the pujaris sing that “Dherbaiyil pirandhavane (born from the holy grass)

A typical deity

The main form of worship of Karuppanar in the shrine is a formless stone which has been decorated with a Turban and a Dhoti with flowers and garlands. He wields an "Aruval" which is a long form of machete resembling a scimitar, a sword, sometimes a lance, a trident and a smaller knife.

The Aruval is a very significant weapon in Tamil Nadu and is considered, in itself, as a symbol of Karuppanar himself. Some Aruvals may reach the height of even 5 feet, especially the ones in Thiruppaachhi.

The Most Important musical Instrument Which like by God karuppanan are Tappu,Tharai,kombu Tharai,Otha thamukku,Pambai,Udukkai and Urumee.

Karuppannaswamy and Siddhas

Karuppannaswamy is a favourite Deity of the Nath/Siddhas. His worship has been integrated into the mode of worship of the Siddhas. Chenthamangalam near Salem has a temple dedicated to Pathinettampadi Raja Karuppannaswamy. This has been erected by Swami Santhananda Saraswati Avadhuta Swamigal.

Muneeswarar

Muneeswarar or Muneeswaran (Tamil முனீஸ்வரன்) is a Hindu god. 'Muni' means 'saint' and 'iswara' represents 'Shiva'. Like Vīrabhadra, he is considered as a form of Shiva. He is worshiped as a family deity in most Shaivite families.

Origin

Sati was the youngest daughter of Daksha, the chief of the gods. When Sati grew up she set her heart on Shiva, worshipping him in secret. In the Swayamvara of Sati, Daksha invited all gods and princes except Shiva. Sati cast her wreath into air, calling upon Shiva to receive the garland; and behold him stood in midst of the court with the wreath about his neck. Daksha had no choice but to marry Sati with Shiva. One day Daksha made arrangements for a great horse sacrifice, and invited all the gods omitting only Shiva. Sati, being greatly humiliated, went to the banquet and Sati released the inward consuming fire and fell dead at Daksha's feet. When Shiva heard this news, he burned with anger, and tore from his head a lock of hair, glowing with energy, and cast upon the earth. Vīrabhadra sprang from it, his tall body reached the high heavens, he was dark as the clouds, he had a thousand arms, three burning eyes, and fiery hair; he wore a garland of skulls and carried terrible weapons. Vīrabhadra bowed at Shiva's feet and asked his will. Shiva directed Vīrabhadra: "Lead my army against Daksha and destroy his sacrifice; fear not the Brahmanas, for thou art a portion of my very self". On this direction of Shiva, Vīrabhadra appeared with Shiva's ganas in the midst of Daksha's assembly like a storm wind and broke the sacrificial vessels, polluted the offerings, insulted the priests and finally cut off Daksha's head, trampled on Indra, broke the staff of Yama, scattered the gods on every side. In order to protect the souls, Shiva created Muneeswara. He possessed seven qualities, and based on them he was called as Shivamuni, Mahamuni, Thavamuni, Naathamuni, Jadamuni, Dharammamuni , Pandi Muni, Eswara Muni, Vazhamuni.

As he appeared from Lord Siva's face. He assumed the form of Shivamuni.

He became Mahamuni who possessed immeasurable divine power.

1) Thavamuni removed all obstacles in the path of the Thevars and Rishis during their Yajna.

2) Nathamuni offered blessings to the Devagananga and Puthaganga.
3) Jadamuni grew trees and possessed Ruthrkshamala Kaatgar and the book.
4) Dharmamuni was the protector of the good and the destroyer of evil.
5) Vazhamuni is praised and worshipped by the Kabalis who live in the jungle.
6) Pandi Muni who praised his, he is talk to them in spiritual manner.

Worship

The cult of Muneeswarar is popular in Tamilnadu, Singapore and Malaysia, with many temples dedicated to him. Since his weapon is the trident, Muneeswarar temples will contain a trident placed in the ground, and limes are placed upon the prongs of the trident. In most villages in India the deity is a laid stone. When statues of Muneeswarar are used, they are painted, in contrast to the black granite statues in other South Indian temples. His statue is dressed in a dhoti, unlike the statues of the other Gods.

Muneeswarar is generally worshiped either as a fierce God or a peaceful God. Those who worship his fierce form offer Him animal sacrifices, liquor, and Desi-cigars or Beedi, which are lit and placed in the statue's mouth. Those who worship his peaceful form offer chukka roti and milk rice.

Muneeswarar is often worshipped alongside Madurai Veeran and Karuppu Sami. Madurai Veeran and Karuppu Sami are also dressed in dhotis.

Pandi Muneeswarar Temple, located at Madurai in southern India {on the bypass road to Sivaganga/Rameswaram} is the most famous and well known to regular worshippers.

Source: Wikipedia

Thottichiamman

Jakkamma, also known as Thottichi Amman or Veera Jakka Devi, is popular deity in South India.^[1]

Jakamma was originally worshipped in what is now the Bellary district. The practice of worshipping her was brought to Tamil Nadu by a king's family, which migrated to Tamil Nadu.

Jakamma is known for her sharp intellectual force. She is believed to be the direct manifestation of Shiva himself without Shakti, unlike other godesses who are the direct embodiment of the Adi Shakti.

It is believed that the great Siddhars like Bhogar and Pulipani worshipped Jakamma as their family deity. Bhogar is said to have taught Pulipani about the art of worshipping Thottichi Amman. Pulipani continued the worship along with the worship of Murugan at a temple in Palani.

Jakkamma is the traditional family deity of the Nayakkers, especially of the Kambalattars (Kambli Nayaks).^[2] Tamil Nadu has many temples of Thottichi Amman, and one such shrine is found in the Pulipani Ashram at the foot of Palani hills. Another important temple of Thottichi Amman can be seen in Ottapidaram in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.^[3] The deity is seen in the fort once ruled by the warrior Veerapandiya Kattabomman, during whose times, she was popularly worshipped as Veera Jakkadevi.